DENVER — With Josh Fogg struggling and appearing unlikley to make his next start, Brad Penny has emerged as a possibility. The Rockies have expressed interest in the right-hander after he was released by the Red Sox last night. Penny would provide another option, along with Russ Ortiz, who is already in Triple-A. But there were indications by mid-afternoon that the Rockies’ interest was mild. They have concerns on how he would fit in the clubhouse.

The hope is that Aaron Cook can return in mid to late September from a shoulder strain, but Penny and Ortiz could be a safety net in the meantime.

Penny would clear waivers Monday, leaving the Rockies available to sign him for the pro-rated minium of roughly $85,000. There are indications that they have a decent shot to land him. If they claimed the veteran before he’s released they would have to pick up the roughly $1 million on his deal. It’s much more likely they would attempt to sign him on Monday at a minimal cost.

The Rockies can buy time by going with four starters in the next turn through the rotation because of Monday’s off day. This would limit the number of starts needed before Cook presumably returns.

Penny told The Boston Herald last night that he wants to sign with a contender before Aug. 31 so that he can be eligible for the playoffs.

Penny was discussed by the Rockies over the winter, but they backed off over some health concerns, and the lack of a glaring need. Eveything is different now with the team trying to reach the playoffs, and Cook out for at least two more weeks with a shoulder strain if not longer.

Earlier this week, the Rockies signed Ortiz and put him in Triple-A Colorado Springs. They also showed that they aren’t afraid to address a need when they agreed to terms with Jason Giambi on a minor-league deal. He will serve as an additional left-handed bat off the bench in September.

Penny also played for Rockies’ manager Jim Tracy in Los Angeles and has historically pitched well in the National League West. He has struggled over the past few months after a decent start. He won just one of his final 11 outings for the Red Sox, finishing with a 7-8 record and a 5.61 ERA.

DENVER — Jason Giambi wanted to be a Rockie. Wanted to be in the National League for the first time in his career. Courtesy of Colorado Springs’ PR whiz Mike Hobson and the Sky Sox’s terrific radio voice Dan Karcher, here is a partial transcript of the slugger’s press conference today in Colorado Springs.

On Coming Back to the Minors To regain his timing after a five-week layoff:
“It’s cool. My egos not in the way at all. I enjoy playing baseball; I’m a baseball player. I enjoy coming out here and playing with the guys, playing a kids game. They asked me if I minded going down to get some at bats and I said no, absolutely not. I want to help you guys win.”

On the difference Between AL & NL:
“The style of ball’s a little bit different, no doubt. The switches become big moves in the National League; the double switch. When to take pitchers out and when to left them go. You don’t have to do that in the American League; you just bang and try to hit as many home runs to come from behind. It’s more strategic here, so I thought it would be fun.”

On his future role as a bench player with Rockies:
“There is no small role when a team’s in the pennant race. I’ve been in a lot of them over my career and it’s exciting to watch those guys play (Rockies). They’ve got a great ballclub and a great clubhouse. I know a lot of the guys. It’ll be fun to be a part of the ballclub.”

On Playing at Coors Field/In Elevation:
“It’s definitely not gonna be a bad situation to hit in. I’ve had a long history of playing at Coors Field with the A’s and the Yankees. I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s a great town (Denver), great atmosphere. The fans love it.”

WASHINGTON D.C. — The clock is ticking on the talks with top pick Tyler Matzek. The Rockies have until 10:01 MST tonight to sign the left-hander, considered by some to be the top high school pitcher in the draft. Just talked to a National League source who said that as of 11 a.m. the sides were still far apart. That doesn’t mean the kid won’t sign, but that there is work to get done.

Matzek traveled from his southern California home to Oregon over the weekend, attending a baseball game over the weekend with the Ducks coach. Classes begin today. Matzek has been very savvy in the negotiations, never giving away any leverage The Rockies will have to go over the $1.8-million slot to sign him, that’s clear. How much will it take is the question — $2M, $3M, more? The Rockies have been stayed close to slot with first-round picks for years, so they will have to buck history to get the kid into the fold.

The injury will force the ace right-hander to miss Tuesday’s start against the Pirates. He’s penciled in to start Saturday in Florida against the Marlins.

Manager Jim Tracy said this morning that either veteran Josh Fogg or rookie Jhoulys Chacin will replace Cook for Tuesday’s game. Tracy’s preference is to go with Fogg, but that plan would be scrapped if the Rockies need Fogg for long relief today or Monday vs. the Cubs.

“We are making very good strides with Aaron,” Tracy said. “But we feel like if we push it and start him on Tuesday, we running the risk of having this be a toothache that won’t go away for a while.”

Tracy said the next two games are too important to simply rule out using Fogg and forcing the club to use back-of-the-bullpen starters such as Rafael Betancourt in roles they are not accustomed to.

Fogg, who earned the nickname “The Dragon Slayer” in 2007 when he consistently bested some of the best starters in baseball during the Rockies run to the National League pennant, has been steady out of the bullpen. He’s 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA. However, he has not made a big-league start this season and he’s pitched just 28 innings in 16 appearances.

Chacin was promoted directly from Double-A Tulsa on July 24. One of the Rockies’ top starting pitching prospects, Chacin has worked sparingly out of the Rockies’ bullpen, appearing in four games with a 1.80 ERA. He allowed his first major-league run Saturday night on a homer to the Cubs’ Koskudome Fukodome.

Cook, and rotation anchor with a 10-3 record and 3.93 ERA, will see a foot specialist at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic on Monday. He wants to make sure his injury is not something serious enough to put him on the disabled list and mess with his season.

“This is the right move,” Cook said. “We want to make sure and get all the inflammation out of there, so I can stick around the rest of the season.”

Cook describes the injury as “turf toe,” that bothered him on the recent road trip. The injury flared up in Philadelphia when Cook backed up third base on a triple.

“That’ when it really started hurting,” said Cook. “It was like somebody stuck a knife in my foot. Right now, it just kind of hurts in that joint in my big toe.”

DENVER — Around 10 a.m. MDT, Matt Holliday’s life became a series of text messages, phone calls and frantic reservations. He had been traded from the Oakland A’s to the St. Louis Cardinals. For Holliday, the news was welcomed. Not only is he returning to the National League, but he’s joining a lineup with Albert Pujols on a team contending for a playoff berth.

Holliday will wear No. 15 for the Cardinals. He’s expected to hit cleanup tonight in Philadelphia.

“I am excited, really looking forward to this opportunity,” Holliday told me this afternoon. “I would have gotten back to you sooner, but it’s been kind of hectic.”

You think? Holliday has not hit like he expected this season, but his swinging the bat now as well as he has all year. He owns a .287 batting average with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. He hit two home runs in a game earlier this week, collecting six RBIs. The Rockies play the Cardinals at Coors Field in the end of September. That series could impact both team’s playoff chances.

ST. LOUIS — This already feels different than any of the previous four All-Star Games I have attended. The security is much tighter. And there are black-uniformed snipers in the stadium and on nearby roofs in anticipation for President Obama’s ceremonial first pitch to Albert Pujols.

There were metal detectors outside the stadium for the media and fans. When the President is in the house, there’s no room for error. Access to the players in the pregame was fruitful. A few tidbits to nibble on after a well-played, if not predictable National League loss:

–Tim Lincecum doesn’t cut his hair because he’s too lazy. “I don’t know what it’s doing,” he said. He was seated next to Dan Haren in the clubhouse. “He’s had a mop for a long time too.” The pair looked ready to start a rockband. Or at the very least play Rockband.
–Learned that Haren lived in Ryan Spilborghs’ garage in Santa Barbara. Haren also stayed with Jason Marquis in St. Louis before he started making big money.
“Dude, pick up ESPN Magazine, it’s in there,’’ Haren said with a smile. Haren, like Spilborghs, has as many friends on other teams as his own.
–Nike sent black and yellow cleats to its clients for the game. Hawpe liked’em, but didn’t wear them.
–No one was enjoying this week more than Padres closer Heath Bell. He downed an energy drink as we spoke. That wasn’t necessary. “I always dreamed of being a closer when I was little. And it’s better than I ever expected.” Bell admitted that he struggled last night because didn’t have his Padres’ coaches to provide a scouting report.
–Derek Jeter stopped me and asked about Troy Tulowitzki. Jeter likes the way Tulo plays, and knows that Tulo looks up to him (it’s why he wears No. 2). “How is my boy Tulo doing? Tell him I said hello,” Jeter asked. I did. Said Tulo, “Nice.”

ST. LOUIS — Brad Hawpe was a great high school pitcher. So good, in fact, colleges didn’t see hitting in his future. Hawpe resisted that notion. He went to junior college, made a phone call that helped him land at LSU, and became a college standout.

Now, after a few near misses, he is an National League All-Star. However in a bit of an upset, he’s not starting tomorrow’s game. He was supposed by rule, given that he was the highest vote-getter among his peers. I will find out more about this soon. Shane Victorino, elected in the online votting, is starting ahead of Hawpe. My knee-jerk reaction is that it didn’t make sense to put Hawpe in center field, a position he’s never played. That’s essentialy what played out.

“I saw Hunter Pence play some center field before, but he really hasn’t since 2007. And with (Shane) Victorino I wanted a guy that had played center field,” Manuel said. “Hawpe is a tremendous player. I like everything about him. I am sure I will work him into the game.”
The NL lineup.
SS Hanley Ramirez
2B Chase Utley
1B Albert Pujols
RF Raul Braun
LF Raul Ibanez
3B David Wright
CF Shane Victorino
C Yadier Molina
RHP Tim Lincecum

Triple-A starter Brandon Hynick threw a seven-inning perfect game in the second game of doubleheader Tuesday. He threw 60 strikes in 88 pitches in a 2-0 win over Portland. The second game of Triple-A doubleheaders only go seven innings.

Hynick improved to 7-5 with a 3.50 ERA. A National League West scout raved to me about Hynick recently, saying “He just knows how to pitch.” Hynick continues to grow on the Rockies, and should get a big-league chance at some point this season.

DENVER — Double-A star pitcher Jhoulys Chacin and speedy Triple-A second baseman Eric Young Jr. have been recognized for their strong seasons with a signinifcant honor. Both have been selected to participate in the Futures Game for top prospects held in conjucntion with the All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Young will play on the U.S. Team for manager Ozzie Smith, while Chacin will be a member of the World roster led by Jose Oquendo.
They are in good company. The game will begin at noon mountain time and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV

There have been 52 players who have competed in both the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Major League All-Star Game. In 2008, a record 23 Major League All-Stars were alumni of the XM All-Star Futures Game (including Alfonso Soriano who was replaced on the All-Star roster due to injury), edging the previous mark of 22 set in 2007.

ANAHEIM — The Rockies have the advantage of the extra hitter tonight. But it won’t be Garrett Atkins. At least not to start. Seth Smith, the National League’s most effective pinch-hitter, gets the nod at DH. Jim Tracy told me before the game that he wants to keep Smith involved. It’s a reward for his bench work, but it also makes him better as a pinch-hitter from seeing more pitches.

Tracy indicated that Atkins and Spilborghs could both see time at DH this week. It could become a pivotal stretch for Atkins. It’s no secret that the Rockies would like to trade him, but there’s been no nibbles based on my sources because of his slow start and $7.05-million contract. It’s obvious that the Rockies aren’t going back on the Ian Stewart experiment. He’s the third baseman. If Atkins can get it going offensively, perhaps the Rockies land a relief arm for him. That’s become their biggest need given the uncertain health of Manuel Corpas.

The pen is united if nothing else. Nearly every guy, including Josh Fogg, Matt Daley and Randy Flores are sporting shaved heads. I told Daley it looked like they were extras from “Prison Break.”

Third baseman Garrett Atkins gets his first start today since June 7 in St. Louis. No surprise there, considering he’s 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs against Mariners lefty Jason Vargas.

The surprise might be that Todd Helton is once again playing a day game after a Saturday night game. Manager Jim Tracy could have rested Helton, started Atkins at first and kept Ian Stewart at third. But Helton’s in a groove. Saturday night he got his team-high 10th go-ahead RBI with a two-out single in the seventh. That hit raised his average with runners in scoring position and two outs to a robust .522. That’s third best in the National League.

Here are today’s lineups as the Rockies go after their third consecutive sweep:

ST. LOUIS — Ian Stewart’s diary of havoc received recognition today. He was named the National League Player of the Week. Stewart went 12-for-25 last week with a league-best four home runs and 12 RBIs.

Teammate Clint Barmes was also nominated for the award. Stewart appears poised to take over as Colorado’s starting third baseman. He started ahead of Garrett Atkins today in St. Louis.

Note: Because of technical issues, today’s Dodgers-Rockies online game story was delayed. It is posted here as a blog.

Prior to this afternoon’s game, manager Clint Hurdle sat in the dugout and painted a stark and candid picture about what’s gone wrong with the Rockies this season. He sited the bullpen’s inability to get key outs, as well as the failure of hitters to come through when it counts the most.

Meanwhile, in the clubhouse, there was a 15-minute, players-only meeting.

Then the Rockies went out and lost via a paint-by-numbers replica of everything Hurdle had talked about.

They lost 8-6 when the Dodgers scored four runs in the seventh inning, picking on starter Ubaldo Jimenez and relievers Manuel Corpas and Randy Flores.

The Rockies staged a dramatic rally in the ninth against Dodgers 290-pound super closer Jonathan Broxton. But with the bases loaded, Troy Tulowitzki struck out on a 2-2, 90 mph slider for the second out. Tulowitzki went 0-for-5, striking out three times.

Broxton, staying away from danger, walked Todd Helton, forcing in a run. Up to the plate stepped pinch hitter Brad Hawpe, who’s been battling a sore groin. Hawpe grounded out weakly to short. Game over.

The Rockies have lost eight of nine to the Dodgers and trail them by 14 games in the National League West. In sweeping the three-game series, the Dodgers outscored the Rockies 31-10.

The loss was the Rockies’ fifth straight at home, this one coming in front of 22,277 fans on a perfect spring afternoon at Coors Field. The Rockies are 10 games under .500. (18-28), exactly where they were at this point last season.

Before a too-little, too-late, two-run rally in the ninth, the Rockies managed just four hits, yet they somehow held a 3-2 lead entering the seventh.

That lead quickly fell to pieces.

Trouble began when Jimenez walked Matt Kemp and Juan Castro followed with a single to left. Jimenez rallied to whiff pinch hitter Casey Blake for the second out. But Juan Pierre, the former Rockie, continues to haunting his old mates. His single to left scored Kemp, tied the game and drove Jimenez from the mound.

In came Flores, up stepped James Loney. He powered Flores’ fastball to center for a three-run double.

The Dodgers, an astronomical 18 games above .500 (33-15), tacked on a bonus run in the eighth off reliever Alan Embree. Pierre hit a bloop single to center, scoring Ethier. Pierre, the replacement for the suspended Manny Ramirez in left field, is hitting .404 with 20 RBIs in a mere 114 at-bats. That’s more RBIs than either Tulowitzki or Garrett Atkins, both of whom have at least 30 more at-bats than Pierre.

The Rockies got up off the mat long enough to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Matt Murton, getting the start in left and hitting cleanup, punched a ball up the middle, sprinted around first and turned a routine hit into a hustle double. Murton got to jog home when Spilborghs hammered a home run to left-center. Spilborgh’s homer, his fourth of the season, was his first since May 2.

Two free passes and a balk put Colorado on the board in the third. Clint Barmes and Paul Phillips drew back-to-back walks off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw and advanced on a finely executed bunt by Jimenez. Barmes trotted home when Kershaw slipped during his delivery and was called for a balk.

The Dodgers cashed in a Loretta walk and a looping single to center by Loney to take a 1-0 lead in the first off Jimenez.

Sloppy fielding by a pitcher, a trademark for the Rockies this season, cost them a run in the second. Jimenez got Castro to hit a chopper to first baseman Helton, who fired to Tulowitzki to force Kemp at second. Tulowitzki fired back to first, hoping for the double play, but Jimenez, covering the bag, simply whiffed on the throw. Ethier jogged in from third, putting the Dodgers ahead 2-0.

The Rockies are off Thursday before opening a three-game series Friday at Coors Field against the Padres.

DENVER — Manager Clint Hurdle knows that the whispers have started, that the talk-show grumbling has grown louder. He’s in the last year of his contract. The team is off to a lousy start (11-17), creating speculation that he’s on the hot seat. He said before tonight’s game that he’s prepared to keep fighting to turn his club around.

“I have never backed away from a challenge,” Hurdle said. “Our players need to do honest self-evaluation and I need to do the same. We need to keep hanging in there together.”

Hurdle said that Bob Melvin’s firing in Arizona showes just how fragile the industry is. Melvin was the National League Manager of Year in 2007. Hurdle led the Rockies to the World Series that fall, pushing every right button during their 21-1 streak.

“Sometimes the effort and the focus are there and you don’t get the results. That’s the time when you face the fire, keep mounting up, and get after it,” Hurdle said.

Asked how he could impact change during this critical time, which he admitted has become challenging, he responded thusly:

“The (players) need to make sure if they have something to say, they say it to me. We need to be open and honest with our communication. There are guys who aren’t in places they want to be. But worrying about everyone’s feelings in there and what everybody is thinking is not at the top of my list. At the top of my list is getting better results. I have never made this about me, whether I am here or not here.”

Hurdle singled out the offensive inconsistency as the most puzzling aspect of the disappointing start. The Rockies’ overall batting average ranks 19th in baseball, but they are hitting just .247 against right-handed pitching, 26th overall.

“It is baffling,” said Hurdle, who believes over swinging, especially at hittable fastballs, is at the core of the problem. “There comes a point and time when you can’t keep saying guys are over trying (a common explanation last season). I would be kidding myself if I did that. You are either good enough or you are not. The overall lack of production has been hard to swallow.”

A look at the Rockies’ lineup that will face Florida’s Josh Johnson., with Garrett Atkins back in, but pushed down to sixth in the order:

SAN DIEGO — Dexter Fowler’s impact has landed him a starting job, but not hardware. Fowler lost out in his bid for the National League Rookie of the Month honors to St. Louis outfielder Brian Barden.
In 21 games, Barden hit .385 with three home runs, seven RBIs and eight runs scored. The Cardinals have been one of baseball’s early surprises, leading the National League Central. That he torched the Cubs (8-for-12) didn’t hurt. Fowler was a strong candidate, hitting .290 in April with an NL-best nine stolen bases.

Due to complications with our online system, I’m posting the first edition of Saturday night’s game story on my blog.
Please look for the final story later online or in the Sunday paper.
— PS

Where’s Waldo? How about where’s Ubaldo?

Ubaldo Jimenez, the talented young pitcher the Rockies placed so much hope and faith in this season, is nowhere to be found.

Certainly that wasn’t the real Jimenez on the mound at Coors Field for four haphazard innings Saturday night as Rockies fell 6-5 to the Dodgers? But, in fact, it was. And once more, early-game pitching woes haunted the Rockies.

And it didn’t help that on a cold night at Coors Field, the offense failed to give the Rockies a jumpstart.

The loss was the Rockies’ 10th in their last 12 games and they’ve lost five straight to the Dodgers. Los Angeles, taking command of the National League West in the early going, improved to 13-5, tied with St. Louis for the best record in the majors.

His mechanics still out of whack and his fastball in need of a homing device, Jimenez was gone after throwing 91 pitches in four innings. After four starts, his ERA is an unsightly 7.58.

The Dodgers jabbed Jimenez for four runs on six hits in the first inning, the big blow a two-run single by Russell Martin. The stocky catcher added another two-run single off Jimenez in the fourth, putting the Dodgers ahead 6-3.

Colorado closed the gap to 6-5 in the fifth on Garrett Atkins’ two-run homer to left, driving in Todd Helton. But the Rockies, who managed just five hits total, couldn’t mount a rally in their last four innings against reliever Ramon Troncoso, who got his first major league save.

In recent games, the Rockies failed to cash in on their opportunities. Saturday night, they simply didn’t create enough opportunities.

The Rockies cut the Dodgers’ early 4-0 lead to 4-3 in the third on run-scoring single by Seth Smith and a two-run double by Brad Hawpe off L.A. rookie starter James McDonald, who notched his first big-league victory.

The Rockies will look to avoid their second sweep of the season by the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.

CHICAGO — Wind. Rain. Cold.
“It’s miserable out there,” said Rockies first baseman Todd Helton.
Nonetheless, it looks like the Cubs’ home opener against the Rockies will go off as scheduled. The temperatures will be in the 30s with the windchill factored in. Personally, I would rather eat tinfoil or run a cheese grater on my shins than face Ubaldo Jimenez’s 98-mph fastball in these conditions. But it’s cozy in the press box. So I am good (because I know my six readers were worried).

With left-hander Ted Lilly on the mound, Dexter Fowler gets the start in center field. As owner Dick Monfort was telling me today, “We have always been taught that you need to be strong up the middle, right? Well, we look pretty strong.” With Chris Iannetta, Troy Tulowitzki, Clint Barmes and Dexter Fowler, the Rockies’ defense through the box is as solid as anyone in the National League. A look at the lineups, with some notes: Milton Bradley (groin) and Aramis Ramirez (stiff back)are out, and catcher Geovanny Sota is not expected to play until Wednesday:

Not because he’s the Rockies’ No. 1 pitcher and is playing under a $34 million contract.
Rather, it’s because he’s talented enough, confident enough and secure enough in his position to afford experimentation.

For other pitchers trying to make the team – think of Jason Hirsh, whom the Rockies sent down to Triple A Monday – there is no such comfort zone. For them, each spring outing carries enormous weight.

Not so for Cook. While his teammates were playing the Diamondbacks across town at Tucson Electric Park, Cook sweated it out on a back diamond behind Hi Corbett Field, pitching in an intra-squad minor-league game.

He threw 78 pitches over six innings, giving up three runs. When he threw his heavy sinker, as he did in exclusively in the sixth, the over-eager prospects beat the ball into the dirt.

But that’s not what this day was about. Cook spent much of his six innings working on his curve and changeup. The results were mixed. He gave up a triple and a double. In the fifth he gave up an enormous homer to prospect Daniel Mayora. The homer came on a changeup that didn’t change enough.

“I threw a lot of breaking balls and off-speed stuff today,” Cook told me as we walked back to the clubhouse on a perfect spring day. “It’s definitely a luxury to be able to work on this stuff.”

But why mess with success? Cook already has one of the best sinkers in the National League and a very good four-seam fastball to keep hitters honest.

“I’m trying to be a little less predictable,” Cook said.

The fact that he got hit hard a few times was of little concern.

“It’s great because in a situation like this, if a guy crushes it really doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m just trying to get a feel for my pitches. At the end of the day, we’re all better for it.”

Yes, Cook said, he could experiment in a Cactus League game, only not as freely. He told me that homers hit by the D-Backs in March, in Tucson, could stoke confidence in April, at Chase Field, in Phoenix.

All in all, it was a good day for Cook. He even laid down two very sweet bunts.

Of course, the lasting image was that of Cook coaxing three quick groundball outs in his final inning on the hill. It was almost as if he pushed a button and infielder grounders rolled out.

I asked why Cook he went back to his bread-and-butter to finish off his day.

“Just to let them know I’ve got it,” the redhead said with a big grin.

At the plate: Ian Stewart found his zone today, proving his left biceps injury is fully healed. He launched a three-run homer off Angels starter John Lackey in the first and added a run-scoring single in the seventh, increasing his spring RBI total to five. Utility candidate Daniel Ortmeier hit a solo homer to right in the fifth, his second homer this spring. Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, boosting his average to .375.

On the mound: Though not as sharp as his last outing, lefty Franklin Morales pitched a workmanlike four innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He also walked two. One area of concern is Morale’s continued discomfort when men get on base. That led to a first-inning balk, though the Rockies protested the call.
“I tried to throw my fastball inside early and I used my curveball pretty good later on,” Morales said.
Closer candidate Huston Street, his quadriceps 100 percent healthy, threw and aggressive, efficient fifth, setting the Angels down in order.

In the field: Stewart, getting the start at third base, flagged down a hot shot down the line by Torri Hunter in the third inning and fired a perfect throw to first nip Hunter. Earlier in the inning, Stewart barehanded a slow roller by Chone Figgins, easily throwing him out at first.
Center fielder Scott Podsednik went full throttle in the sixth, tracking down a deep fly by Mike Napoli to save a run.
Pitcher Jason Hirsh made an ugly error in the sixth. Hirsh got Kendry Morales to hit a chopper back to the mound, catching Erick Aybar between third and home. But Hirsh tossed the ball over the head of catcher Paul Phillips, allowing Aybar to score.

Footnotes: After a seven-game losing streak to open spring training, the Rockies have won six straight Cactus League games. … Podsednik (three walks) — counting on his speed to help him earn a spot on the roster — stole his third base of the spring in the first. He was thrown out trying to steal in the fifth.

For those who still dream about Matt Holliday being on the Rockies, here’s some good news. He’s part of a big-league fantasy appearing on your TV set soon. OK, for accuracy’s sake, it’s a fantasy league baseball commercial on ESPN. And, no he’s not returning to Colorado. Holliday, now with the Oakland A’s, appears along with Grady Sizemore, ESPN writers and actress Alyssa Milano.
Holliday filmed the spot last week in Los Angeles. His profile increased dramatically during the 2007 season when he finished second in the National League MVP race while helping lead the Rockies to their first-ever World Series. Last spring he was featured in print and TV ads for Nike.
So since this was a fantasy league commercial, which begs the question: Should fans take Holliday early and often in their upcoming drafts?
“If you like homers, (batting) average, runs and stolen bases,” said Holliday, primed for a big season after training all winter in Southern California.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.